Female actors almost always get the short end of the stick in Hollywood regardless of the type of film, but one genre that is almost universally unkind to women is film noir. The women in these types of movies are practically always a conniving seductress, a hapless damsel, or a ditzy dame. But director Jenna Ricker is looking to change that with her new film, The American Side. This neo-noir is a crazy caper that turns the genre on its head with unexpected and complex characters, skillful injections of humor, an inventive plot, and a predominantly women-led cast.